Help is on the way for the injury-riddled Baltimore Orioles, as injured infielders Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías will begin their minor league rehab assignments on Thursday. Baltimore announced on Wednesday that the two infielders will start their rehab assignments with Triple-A Norfolk, joining the Tides for their six-game homestand against the Nashville Sounds. The length of their rehab assignments is unclear, but Westburg and Urías expect to return before the regular season ends.
INFs Ramón Urías and Jordan Westburg are both expected to begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Norfolk tomorrow, per #Orioles
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) September 18, 2024
Getting both Westburg and Urías back could provide a much-needed boost for an Orioles team that has struggled in September. Twelve days ago, the Orioles held a half-game lead over the New York Yankees in their fight for the American League East. But since then, Baltimore has gone 3-8 and now trails New York by four games for the division lead. Over that span, the Orioles offense has been virtually non-existent.
Orioles Infielders Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías Expect Regular Season Return
Of all the injured Orioles, Westburg is one of the most important to get back. The 25-year-old third baseman has been sidelined since July after a hit-by-pitch from Yerry Rodríguez of the Toronto Blue Jays fractured his right wrist. A first-time All-Star, Westburg has been crucial to the lineup this season and the Orioles offense has struggled without him.
“We can’t wait to have him [Westburg] back. We are expecting him back before the end of the regular season,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said on Tuesday. “We’re not totally there yet, but it’s going really well.”
Urías, who took over as the Orioles’ everyday third baseman in Westburg’s absence, was arguably Baltimore’s best hitter in August. The 30-year-old Gold Glove winner hit .260/.337/.521 with five homers, and 17 RBI in 27 games last month. Urías went on the injured list with a sprained right ankle on August 31st. With both Westburg and Urías out of the lineup, Baltimore is 6-9 and has batted just .219 as a team. Baltimore will face New York next week and hope Westburg and Urías can help them clinch their first back-to-back divisional titles since 1974.
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